What does this research mean for the field?

Metaplastic breast cancer is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous malignancy characterized by frequent triple-negative receptor status, diagnostic complexity, and high short-term mortality due to distant metastasis. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Characterize the clinical features, pathological findings, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients diagnosed with metaplastic breast cancer.

September 14, 2026Frontiers in Oncology0 citationsOpen Access

Clinicopathological Characteristics, Diagnostic Challenges, and Aggressive Outcomes in...

Metaplastic breast cancer: a clinicopathological analysis of nine cases highlighting diagnostic challenges and aggressive behavior

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Authors

YSYuan Shao BKBinghua Kan YLYanni Li

Discussion

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Overview

Retrospective analysis reveals high rates of distant metastasis and short-term mortality in metaplastic breast cancer, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Key Points

Characterize the clinical features, pathological findings, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients diagnosed with metaplastic breast cancer.
Single-center retrospective analysis of nine patients (N=9) diagnosed with metaplastic breast cancer between January 2016 and July 2025 at Hanzhong Central Hospital.
Comprehensive evaluation of patient demographics, ultrasound findings, tumor pathology via immunohistochemistry, surgical and systemic interventions, and follow-up outcomes.
Tumors presented as irregular hypoechoic masses (1.5–7.0 cm), with 77.8% (7/9) classified as triple-negative, 11.1% (1/9) ER-low positive, and 11.1% (1/9) converting to HER2-positive after neoadjuvant therapy.
All nine patients underwent mastectomy; the most frequent distant metastatic sites were the liver and brain.
At a median follow-up of 24 months (range: 15.7–28.4 months), 55.6% (5/9) of patients died from distant metastatic disease, while 33.3% (3/9) remained disease-free.

Cite This Study

Shao et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3770926e14a848b2612 https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2026.1852513

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September 14, 2026Frontiers in Oncology0 citationsOpen Access

Clinicopathological Characteristics, Diagnostic Challenges, and Aggressive Outcomes in...

Metaplastic breast cancer: a clinicopathological analysis of nine cases highlighting diagnostic challenges and aggressive behavior

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

YSYuan Shao BKBinghua Kan YLYanni Li

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Retrospective analysis reveals high rates of distant metastasis and short-term mortality in metaplastic breast cancer, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Key Points

Characterize the clinical features, pathological findings, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients diagnosed with metaplastic breast cancer.
Single-center retrospective analysis of nine patients (N=9) diagnosed with metaplastic breast cancer between January 2016 and July 2025 at Hanzhong Central Hospital.
Comprehensive evaluation of patient demographics, ultrasound findings, tumor pathology via immunohistochemistry, surgical and systemic interventions, and follow-up outcomes.
Tumors presented as irregular hypoechoic masses (1.5–7.0 cm), with 77.8% (7/9) classified as triple-negative, 11.1% (1/9) ER-low positive, and 11.1% (1/9) converting to HER2-positive after neoadjuvant therapy.
All nine patients underwent mastectomy; the most frequent distant metastatic sites were the liver and brain.
At a median follow-up of 24 months (range: 15.7–28.4 months), 55.6% (5/9) of patients died from distant metastatic disease, while 33.3% (3/9) remained disease-free.

Cite This Study

Shao et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3770926e14a848b2612 https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2026.1852513

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark